County of Los Angeles v. Mendez Oral Argument

2017-03-31T20:00:21-04:00https://images.c-span.org/Files/fba/20170331200057002_hd.jpgThe Supreme Court heard oral argument in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, which involves the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s “provocation rule” that police officers who use force not deemed excessive can still be held liable if they provoke victims to respond in a way that makes the officers reasonably fear for their safety. In 2010 Angel Mendez and Jennifer Lynn Garcia were a homeless couple living in a shack in a friend’s backyard. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies looking for a wanted parolee illegally entered and searched the house and shack. Deputies entered the shack without a warrant or knocking and fired 15 shots, wounding both Ms. Garcia and Mr. Mendez. Mr. Mendez, whose leg had to be amputated below the knee, was holding a BB gun he used to kill rats when the officers entered, and Ms. Garcia was pregnant. Neither was whom the deputies were looking for.

On May 30, 2017, the court sided with police, overturning a lower court ruling awarding $4 million to the couple.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, which involves the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s “provocation rule” that…
read more

County of Los Angeles v. Mendez Oral ArgumentThe Supreme Court heard oral argument in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, which involves the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s “provocation rule” that police officers who use force not deemed excessive can still be held liable if they provoke victims to respond in a way that makes the officers reasonably fear for their safety. In 2010 Angel Mendez and Jennifer Lynn Garcia were a homeless couple living in a shack in a friend’s backyard. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies looking for a wanted parolee illegally entered and searched the house and shack. Deputies entered the shack without a warrant or knocking and fired 15 shots, wounding both Ms. Garcia and Mr. Mendez. Mr. Mendez, whose leg had to be amputated below the knee, was holding a BB gun he used to kill rats when the officers entered, and Ms. Garcia was pregnant. Neither was whom the deputies were looking for.

On May 30, 2017, the court sided with police, overturning a lower court ruling awarding $4 million to the couple. close